Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-06-04

was spread about, and the people in the house
were eager for the particulars. The accepted
version was that Rolfe had attempted to hug
and kiss Miss Craydocke by force.
"He was always on too familiar footing
here" said tobacco factors daughter, and
who, as one of the richly rich, was anx
ious that the visible distinctions of gentility
should be plainly marked.
Edith had retired to her room. The girls
rushed after her and found her in tears.
There was chorus of "Oh, what's the mat
ter, dearp'
"Oh, it's too dreadful to talk about girls;
can't tell you now" said Edith. fencing for
time to think out what to say and do.
A chorus of "Oh, poor dear!" and they
Rugged and kissed her, and could have
scratched Rolfe's eyes out, while she would
have liked to put her arms around his neck
Bob and Dick, her brothers, came rushing
upstairs, red-faced and violent, making for
Rolfes door. She rushed out on the land
ing, and stood before them as tense in every
muscle as she had been limp before go
down stairsr' she said with an imperious
gesture, and they went.
Meanwhile Role was bursting with rage
and modification. He understood it all now!
Had ever man been such a dupe before? His
observation of her intimacy with Lord
Creighton had decided her to get rid of him.
He laughed bitterly, and busted himself with
the packing of his portmanteau, which he
sent ahead of him to the town. Then he
sought Mr.. Craydocke to turn over to him
his account books. Craydockes voice, still
pitched in an angry key, was heard in the
parlor. Rolfe, like all persons given to
habits of introspection, was apt to be awk-
ward and self-conscious when he felt that his
movements were being observed; but his
spirits rose in the presence of an emergency.
In his present mood he was indifferent to
everything, and the only boon he would
have craved of fortune was the pleasure of
knocking Lord Creighton down. This was
pleasure he determined to have, but he pro-
posed that Lord Creighton should be the ag-
gressor.
He walked into the parlor, smiling and
bowling politely, and approached Mr.. Cray
docke regardless of the stares to which he
was subjected by the ladies and gentlemen in
the room. His effrontery astounded Mr..
Craydocke, who was not ready of speech.
and he listened silently, while in an easy
and unembarrassed tone Rolfe gave him
some information in regard to the state of
his accounts, and called his attention to
business matters that needed to be looked to-
Role made formal leave-taking, and as he
walked through the room to the doorway,
he coolly surveyed the company, devotingto
my Lord Creighton, in particular, a glance of
cool disdain. That gentlemen was furious to
see Rolfe carrying off the honors of the en-
counter; but he could hardly collect his
faculties so as to resolve what he might do
and retain his dignity. Controlling his
temper with violent effort, he assumed his
most supercilious manner and most exquisite
drawl, and advanced toward Rolfe.
''Ah, fellow! don't know whether. as
magistrate of this province do right in per
hitting you to depart without Furnishing you
for assault upon your master daughter. You
ought by rights to be sent to the whipping
post but in Difference to your kind master,
l have concluded to let you go scot free. The
base nature of you redemptioners stands con-
stantly in need of the lash. Keep from thiev-
ing and violence hereafter, and try to lead an
honest life, or else you'll come to the gibbet."
Role (coldly)-'I do not know what may
be the style of manners in the place where
your lordship received your breeding, but in
this part of the world for a gentleman to
offer an insult when the presence of ladies
protects him from the consequences is pre-
sumptive evidence of cowardice."
Creighton (his dignity collapsing)-"You
vile, nameless redemptioner. How dare you
address me thus!'
Rolfe, with cold disdain. replied: II see
my lord, you are determined to take the
fullest advantage of your immunity"
Creighton could no longer restrain him
self, and made motion as if to throw him
self upon Rolfe, a movement which the
Latter contemplated with the lveliest salts
faction. The thought of the disgrace of an
undignified scuffie with an inferior, in which
he might be worsted, flashed across Lord
Creighton's mind in time to restrain him;
but, catching up glass of wine he threw it
and its contents in Rolfe's face. Calmly
wiping the drops from his face and clothing
Rolfe, in voice and manner made as con-
temptuous as possible, remarked in the same
cold and deliberate utterance that he had all
along maintained:
GAS you are a magistrate, my lord, you
ought to know the proper punishment to
mete out to ruffian but it is, of course
hardly to be expected that you will admins
ter it upon yourself"
Leaving Creighton gasping and paralyzed
by this shaft, Rolfe walked deliberately out
the doorway into the hall. Miss Craydocke
stood on the stairway pale and agitated. She
looked at him with an appealing glance. He
bowed with ceremonious politeness, walked
out of the house and, mounting his horse,
rode off
An hour later Role was pacing up and
down the tavern parlor, tormented with the
unrest of unsatisfed malevolence. He was
reluctant to leave the locality while the score
between himself and Lord Creighton was
unsettled, and how to bring about a settle
ment he knew not. A duel was out of the
question; Lord Creighton would never ac-
cept challenge from the ex-bondsman.
Fortune favored him. In the midst of his
cogitations noisy calvacade arrived-Lord
Creighton, the Craydocke boys and some
young men of their set. The bar-room was
on the same floor as the parlor, separated
only by passage, and Role gathered from
their loud and infamed speech that they in
tended to horsewhip him for his insolence.
He smiled grimly.
The drinks were at the bar. "Be gad,"
said my lord, not noticing a sudden stir
among the party; 81 think shall cut his
ears off, so that everywhere he goes people
will know that he is a knave from his CROP"